SEC Power Rankings for 2019 preseason: Should Vols start in bottom tier?

Preseason SEC Power Rankings for 2019: Should Vols start in bottom tier?

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers brings his team onto the field prior to a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images /

Hey, SEC Power Rankings are based on how you’re doing at the time, right? Well, taking everything into account, the top four of the rankings are all pretty much interchangeable if you go by talent and production. But the Georgia Bulldogs did lose their bowl game to a Texas Longhorns team that is being overrated now because of it.

That loss gave them an 11-3 finish, and in fact, they finished on a two-game losing streak if you count the SEC Championship game loss. On top of that, they then lost their offensive coordinator, Jim Chaney, to the Tennessee Vols. And Kirby Smart has to replace nearly half of his offensive production, making things even harder.

Okay, so there is plenty of good news in Athens as well. Jake Fromm and D’Andre Smith are still there. Smart added to the greatest recruiting class of all time with another No. 1 overall recruiting class this offseason. And he has the program now in position to just reload.

But given the state of the top programs in the league at this moment, it’s hard to say that UGA belongs above No. 4 given their Sugar Bowl loss. They’ll have to put on a couple of nice early performances to earn the respect back that they may deserve in these rankings.

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